“Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.” (Deuteronomy 32:3) “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” (Psalm 68:11) The word publish means “to make known that which is unknown about our God.”
“And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles . . . .” (Jonah 3:7) The king of Nineveh, a very wicked city, published the Gospel after he heard it from Jonah. Do you realize that just one man obeyed what God had commanded him to do the second time, and the greatest revival in the history of mankind was recorded in the Bible? That is what I challenged Texas Baptist Church in San Antonio with during their Missions Conference in March.
“But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.” (Mark 1:45) All it takes is for one man to publish the Word of God and to do what God has commanded us to do.
“And the gospel must first be published among all nations.” (Mark 13:10) We must never forget what God has commanded us all to do—all nations, not just where it is easy.
“Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.” (Luke 8:39) “And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” (Acts 13:49)
The number-one goal at BEST Missions is to provide a copy of God’s Word to those who have never heard the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you realize that over half of the world has never seen a copy of God’s Word?
The good folks who are serving at Texas Baptist Church pick up coins as they go soul winning and send the money to BEST Missions to help us publish the Word of God for those who know not our God. One penny will publish three pages in a Bible, and they understand that!
I truly wish more folks were concerned about people not having a Bible. Thank the Lord, we will be loading another container of Bibles to send to Bangkok in April! We will also be raising funds for printing the first Bible for the people and churches in Laos.
April 2023
I was invited by Pastor Lewis to preach a Wednesday night service at Mission Hill Baptist Church in Palmyra, Missouri, a church that we were privileged to help organize over 40 years ago. What a blessing it was to see friends still faithful and serving the Lord at Mission Hill Baptist Church.
Northeast Missouri is a very special place for me and my family. We were all saved there and lived there until 1982. I received Christ as my personal Saviour as an 18-year-old senior in high school. That was 57 years ago as of April 17, 1966, and I have never gotten over that Sunday night that I got saved. That is where we started our journey serving the Lord, and what a journey it has been.
I thank God for my good wife, who helped me to get to know the Lord by inviting me to attend church. I am also thankful for a good church and good, Godly folks who led us in the right way.
One never knows where they will end up in this life, but we do know where we will end up in the next life—HEAVEN! It has not always been easy for the last 57 years, but it sure has been fruitful. I have no idea how many more years of service I have here on earth, but the only goal I have is to “finish my course with joy” and to continue publishing the Word of God for those who have never heard nor seen a copy of God’s Word.
BEST Missions opened a new Bible-distribution center in Uganda, Africa, under the direction of Missionary Keith Stensaas. They are second-generation missionaries, serving the Lord in Uganda, Africa, since February of 1996. Since coming to Uganda, God has enabled him to see 11 existing churches started, a Bible college, and 2 Bible institutes founded to train men and women for the ministry.
Please continue to pray for the Laotian Bible Project. The text has been sent to the printer in Northern Thailand. This will be the first time these dear folks have ever had a copy of God’s Word.
Thank you so much for your prayers for me and my wife’s health. We love you, and we thank God for the opportunity to serve the LORD another year.
Into all the world,
Brother Bowen
Philippians 4:13